#Source: Clockwork Princess
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Charlotte: You don't think I can fight because I'm a girl.
Edgar: I don't think you can fight because you're wearing a wedding dress. For what it's worth, I don't think McCullum could fight in that dress either.
Geoffrey: Maybe not, but I would make a radiant bride.
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Alessandra:You don't think I can fight because I'm a girl!
Reiley:I don't think you can fight because you're wearing a wedding dress.
Reiley:For what it's worth,I don't think Jere could fight in that dress,either.
Jere:Perhaps not,but I would make a radiant bride.
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incorrect-maneskin-quotes · 2 years ago
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Victoria:You don't think I can fight because I'm a girl!
Thomas:I don't think you can fight because you're wearing a wedding dress.
Thomas:For what it's worth,I don't think Damiano could fight in that dress,either.
Damiano:Perhaps not,but I would make a radiant bride.
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incorrectswordcatcherquotes · 5 months ago
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Lin: You don’t think I can fight because I’m a girl!
Kel: I don’t think you can fight because you’re wearing a wedding dress. For what it’s worth, I don’t think even Conor could fight in that dress either.
Conor: No but I would make a radiant bride.
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as-thra · 8 months ago
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Catalyst Ivy Warrington in AM!AU !!!!!!!!!!!! like clockwork, hcs always under the cut
if you can't tell just by looking at her am!au ivy stresses about her appearance a lot :']]] she's much much more clean cut, cookie cutter, prim and proper, garden princess... she's gone through horrors at age 11 and this is how she came out everything's obviously okay
Meticulously cared for pin straight hair with not a strand out of place, she brushes it an exact 600 strokes nightly
Her eyebrows are groomed perfectly!!! she has light freckles she covers up!!!!! she has eye bags she conceals !!!!!! she has blush to return a healthy glow to her skin !!!!!!!!! she swears its natural and she'd never touch make up
Her sweater is so very soft and is genuinely such a source of comfort for her... she keeps her posture right and stiff, her clothes are uncomfortable, she's probably getting a headache from that headband, but her sweater's a saving grace
Her pose is on purpose this time nsnske
Catalyst Ivy because it's her that ends up triggering every am related plot point... it only made sense, she set off the first thing that set it to motion after all
In AM!AU she presents herself so cleanly because her mind is the exact opposite, her memories are in a disarray after they've been taken out - altered - put back - removed again - returned again after the accident with winnie, yyyyyeah their grandmother isn't very good in am!au and the consequences of tampering with memory is much more clear with our ivy here
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bunny-dr34ms · 11 months ago
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the love fate demands of us - chapter 1
- mystical!txt x angel!reader
summary. you were perfect in every single way; beautiful, kind, not even so much as a blemish out of place. perfect apart from the fact you had magic coursing through your veins and the worst possible thing you could be in the land of flora, was magic. at least you have your companion, horangi, who was the only one who comforted you through all your sorrowful nights. but fate never fails to be cruel and you find that the world was against him as much as they were against you. what will you do when they try to take the only kindness you've ever known away from you?
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cw/ tw; f!reader, elf!yeonjun, vampire!soobin, werewolf!beomgyu, wizard!taehyun, fae!kai, fantasy au, royalty au
features; txt, names of other idols that i decide as i go
wc; 4.8k
Chapter 1: The Wingless Angel Cries
You sat on one of the many exquisite swings in the Esor estate, gently swaying back and forth as you admired the white rose vines climbing up the gazebo overhead. Bathed in the warm orange glow of the sunset, it was almost as if your skin shimmered in the light. The scene was truly enchanting—not just the roses, but you as well. At 18, your youthfulness bloomed on your cheeks, face as fresh as a flower, you completed the view, really, you completed any view with your unrivaled beauty. It was no wonder why you were spared. You, a child of infidelity. You, a child of magic in a kingdom for humans.
The people of Esor remember as if it were yesterday when the princess was born. They knew she would be the last child of the King and Queen, which made her all the more precious. However, news of her birth quickly spread, and the shock it carried soon reached even the farthest corners of Flora.
You were spared from death, but you could never forget your origins; they wouldn’t let you. Beyond the constant whispering and the odd stares from both maids and knights, your family ensured you were always aware of your difference. Your father enjoyed your presence but detested when you spoke or moved, preferring you to be nothing more than a statue in his sight. Your older brother, Prince Hyunjin, is sweetly cruel, and you can’t discern whether his feelings are of hate or love. In truth, he is deeply concerned for you, yet he feels guilt for it, knowing he'll never do anything more than watch you struggle. Your older sister, Princess Yeji, harbors a deep-seated loathing for you, making it clear to both you and everyone else in the castle. Your mother is the only one who truly loves you, but not for who you are as her daughter—rather, because you are a beautiful reminder of her lost lover. Even as she runs her hands through your hair and caresses your face with a yearning for another, you choose to return her love. Love, no matter how cruel and bittersweet it may be, is still love.
So there you sat, swaying gently in the wind, nestled in a secluded spot of the garden, wearing that sorrowfully blank expression that seemed permanently etched upon your face. They said the tears you shed were the source of those endlessly sad eyes. You, without friends. You, without a suitor. You, with no future, condemned to remain in the castle, wasting away. No matter how extraordinarily beautiful you were, it would never be enough to overcome the stain of your tainted blood.
Somehow you stayed kind, choosing to look at the brighter side of things, caring for others even though they would cast you aside given the chance. Even as the maids approach you reluctantly to tell you the queen was looking for you, you nod and only mention to them that the roses need to be watered, but tell the gardener tomorrow as it was getting late.
“Come, my beloved, sit,” mother says the moment she sees you, ushering you past her gold doors just to lock it behind her. There was routine to this meeting, every other night you would be called to mother’s chambers so she could, ‘comfort her troubled heart’ as she says. Like clockwork, you sit on the edge of the bed, the side closest to the window where the moonlight shines in. She’s already all over you, running her hands into your hair, forcing you to look up at her while she mutters sweetly about how much you resembled him. Minutes later she’s finally sitting next to you, her hands caressing your face.
“Oh, how angelic, how ethereal you are, my love,” she whispers her face inching closer and closer to yours. She presses her cheek against yours, relishing in the feeling before she pulls away to look into your eyes. You don’t speak because it ruins the moment for her, you can only speak after she allows you to retire for the night. Moments pass of her just staring in your eyes as tears fills in hers, memories of another man, long dead, flashing through her mind. She told you the first night she asked for you, that she felt guilty for her lover’s death, that it was her fault she kept you because of it wasn’t for that, she would’ve never been caught. In that sense, it was partially your fault too, so helping her cope was the least you could do.
You cry with her, because the heartbreak you saw in her eyes was painful too. Warm tears running down your cheeks as your mother pulls your face closer and closer to her. Your eyes flutter shut when she pulls away to kiss your tears mumbling, “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, I love you.” There are times her lips press so close to your own that you wonder if she’ll ever end up kissing you. She never does. As much as you wish you could reciprocate her passion, you didn’t feel much no matter how she held you, just the bittersweetness of longing and grief.
Mother does this for two hours before she dries your tears with a handkerchief and then her own. She takes your hand in her own as she does every night, waiting for you to look up at her with those wonderous pink eyes of yours. “Thank you, my dear. You cannot imagine how much solace your face brings me.” “I am glad to have been of help,' you say quietly, not making the effort to return her smile. With that you’re permitted to leave, your mother wasting no time to click the door quietly the moment you are out.
Before you could start walking, a hand ravels itself in your hair and yanks it back. Yeji. "You're a fool if you think Mother loves you," she seethed as she drags you towards her, "But I'm sure you know that, disgusting things like you cling on to whatever affection you can get." Tears fills your eyes again as your trembling hands try reach up holding on to your head, "Yeji, please" you plead as she jerks your head up, watching as your face contorted in pain. At that she throws you on the ground, glaring as she stalks towards you, "Look at you pleading to your sister, have you no shame?" She grabs your face, brutally squeezing your cheeks together, fingers digging in deeply, "so unworthy of this beauty," she mumbles running her eyes across your features. All you could do was hold your breath, eyes frantically begging her to let you go. When she does, she tosses your head back into the carpet, leaving before you could manage to right yourself up on your arms. "Your existence is revolting. No amount of beauty will ever change that." With that, you're left alone.
Again, you're sobbing into your arms, curled up in your bed while your body continued to shake. The only comfort you had was your puppy, Horang, based on the unique striped patterns in his fur. You found and took him in when you were strolling in the woods a few weeks ago. At first, you considered releasing him after his paw healed from how much he would snarl and bite at you, but he warmed up after a few days, going as far as lying next to you when you cried. "He pities you too, princess," your maids would joke when they came around to tidy your room. He's grown quite quickly since then and now he's curled around your feet, almost wrapping all the way around you, whining each time you sniffled, staring at you with saddened eyes. Eventually you look up and run a hand through his fur, petting him gently, "you're all I have in this place, in this world," you sigh sadly. You move around and lie your head softly on top of him, tears dampening his fur as you whisper, voice broken and worn, "you're the only one I truly love."
It's a good thing you're a deep sleeper. You can't feel the clawed hand running over your cheeks, brushing the blonde locks in your face behind your ear. You can't hear him as he murmurs sweet nothings, admiring the way you radiate in the moonlight. He wraps his large arm around your body, pulling your small figure into him, his tail covering your body, mentally scolding you for falling asleep atop your blankets again. Even when you shift under him, he doesn't react, knowing your sleeping habits by heart, instead he nudges his head into yours, breathing in your sweet floral scent.
When you wake up the next morning, you’re greeted by a kisses from Horangi on your face, warm tongue excitedly panting when you sit up. You pet him between his ears drowsily, “Good morning, you’re excited today?” Horangi barking as if he understood you, brought a smile to your face, something rarely seen, which naturally led him to jump up on top of you. Your maids come in soon after, asking you to quiet or control your pet as they got you up and ready for the day. “Sorry Horangi, I’ll see you later.” You pet him sadly before you leave your room.
“Prince Hyunjin asked for you,” your personal maid, Eunchae, says as you stroll down the hall, “he insisted it was of utmost importance.” Eunchae is a pretty, kind girl who was often caught staring at you for too long, genuinely admiring your angelic appearance. She was someone in the castle with whom you felt at ease, or rather, she was the only one who didn’t treat you like an outsider. “I see,” you say, changing your route to go to Hyunjin’s office, “I shall be going then,” silently bidding her good bye.
“Come in.” his smooth voice beckoned you in the moment you knocked. “Good morning brother,” you greet him, closing the door behind you, “You asked for me?” Hyunjin puts his quill down, humming as he stands up, walking around his desk, “Indeed I did. There is something you should know.” Confused, you stood there, quietly waiting for him to continue. He leans against the edge of the brown wood, arms crossing in front of him, sighing heavily before looking up at you. “You are forbidden from seeing Mother any longer. She must learn to manage her grief without you.” He understands how much Mother means to you, how she is the only one providing the false sense of security, the illusion of family bonds, and a semblance of love. Despite how harsh it may appear, he is doing this out of necessity. He needs to protect you from the deceptive comfort she offers while he still can.
Hyunjin knew you weren't going to take it lightly but when you speak, retaliate really, he can't help but be surprised. "No, I...I refuse. I can't leave her alone, she needs me!" Your soft voice pitching with each word, a tightness building in your chest as you think about how woefully Mother cries, looking at you as if you're who she is grieving for. You watch as he sighs again, looking down to his hands as, head shaking as he fiddles with the ring brandishing the family crest, "Y/n, I'm sorry but I'm not going to allow this to continue. It's sick, the way she's using you." Trembling you step back, holding tears in your eyes as you stare at him with disbelief, "S-She's not..Mother is not using me, she loves me, you don't understand." Hyunjin walks over, stopping right in front of you, staring at you with pity, the same way everyone in this castle does. Placing a hand on your shoulder, he could only watch as tears roll down your eyes, then as you started sobbing into your hands. He knows you'd accept this the way you accepted everything else unfair about your life, even so, he feels an ache in his heart as you crumble away a little more.
"Horangi, why is fate so cruel to me?" you mutter, burying yourself into his fur. It was night time now and after your break down in Hyunjin's office, you sat there for a couple hours, curled up on one of the chairs as he worked away. He was kind enough to let you stay while your tears dried up, making sure no one came to bother you until you left on your own. It wasn't until you decided that it was best to see Mother one last time before she becomes another family member you have to avoid. Hyunjin seemed to know where you were going, reassuring that he'll make sure Mother gets all the help she needs. You knew your brother was kind, that deep down he wasn't like the others. He really does care about you, maybe even wishes he could love you like the baby sister you were supposed to be. Alas, he is the crown prince, loving his anomaly of a sister would go against the image he needs to rule. As you hesitantly opened Mother's door, she was taken aback, her hand flying to her chest as she hurried towards you, bombarding you with questions while you quietly closed the door behind you. You could never forget the look of despair on her face when you revealed the news to her, nor could you forget how she fell to her knees, clutching your hands tightly, pleading for forgiveness for all her failings: for not loving you as a mother should, for all her sins, and for the sin of bringing you into this world. A few more hours passed as you reassured her with whatever words were needed to calm her down, guiding her to her chair and gently countering every self-deprecating remark she made about herself. As the sunset marked the end of your visit, you dried her tears and then wiped away your own before you finally took your leave.
Horangi whines as your hands tighten into fists in his fur, his head raising to look at you as tears rolled down your face. "How unfair this all is. There truly is no one who loves me in this world is there?" You sob, scarcely aware of how Horangi curls up around you more tightly, his tail brushing gently against your feet. You think that if it weren’t for him, you might have lost your mind long ago. When his head nudges you, you look up at him, seeing your own exhaustion mirrored in his sad, almost concerned eyes. Your hand moves from his fur to gently stroke his face, "Your eyes are beautiful too Horangi. They hold so much emotion, just staring at them makes me feel better," murmuring as he bunted his head against your hand affectionately. You take a deep breath, inhaling the familiar earthy-musky scent of his fur that has begun to permeate your room since you first took him in. The comforting aroma washes over you, and you can feel yourself drifting towards sleep, your body finally relaxing as the fatigue of the day takes hold.
You were so exhausted that you didn’t notice him slipping out of bed after a few hours, nor did you hear him moving around, extinguishing the candles. You remained unaware of his tender efforts to lift you and tuck you back under the blankets, only vaguely sensing a slight adjustment as you settled deeper under the covers. He crawls under the sheets with you, facing you, nose to nose as her admired how peaceful you were asleep. His sharp eyes could see how each eyelash kissed the top of your cheeks and the little details of your lips. The way your body curled up made you look so small compared to his long lanky body, barely reaching the end of his torso. Oh, how he longs to pull you into his arms and hold you tightly against his chest. Instead he decides carefully scooch a little closer, brushing stray strands of hair behind your ear. Words he wishes he could tell you escape him, voice deep and silky as he whispers, "I'd love you until the end of the world." He stares at you for a moment longer, holding his breath as if your eyes would flutter open to see his human form and react to his words. When you remain asleep, he reassures himself that it’s for the best. Relieved, he allows himself to drift into a light sleep, taking care to avoid detection by morning.
The night would have continued as it usually did, with him slipping out from under the blankets, shifting back into a medium-sized dog, and then leaping back onto the bed to resume his sleep. But tonight was different; Hyunjin had sent maids to check on you, the image of your distress still vivid in his mind. A sudden scream jolted both of you awake as the maid discovered a man sleeping beside you. Your heart pounded in your chest as you shot upright, scanning the room for the source of the alarm, only to realize there was an equally startled man sitting up beside you, naked and in your bed. Your mouth opens to let out a similar scream but he turns into Horangi right before your eyes. "Werewolf! W-Werewolf in the castle!" The maid shrieks, collapsing to the floor in terror as she scrambles towards the door, calling out for help. Horangi barks and whines, darting around the room in a frantic frenzy before halting to look at you as you get out of bed and slowly approach him. Strangely, you weren't scared, even now, knowing he is a mystical beast, he is still your Horangi. He laid down on his belly, his tail wagging anxiously as your hand reached out to pet his pressed down ears, his eyes looking at yours with newly found fear. Your heart raced in your chest as you think back to the man who had the exact same eyes staring down at you. Horangi really was a werewolf, you think, but when his ears flop up at your touch, you find yourself mesmerized by him. Did he understand all the things you told him? Has he been listening this whole time? Does he love you too? Horangi had magic in his veins, just like you, he knew you were half-human and tolerated that too.
"Horangi I- " you begin but The sound of numerous knights thundering down the hallway made his eyes widen with panic, and it was only then that you grasped the gravity of what was about to unfold. You sprang to your feet and positioned yourself in front of him, arms outstretched as you tried to shield Horangi from view when the soldiers burst into your room, "Move Princess, that is a danger that we need to exterminate immediately," the head knight said his sword at the ready. For the first time in your life, you cried out, desperate as you tried to use your title, "Please stand down! Obey your princess and lower your weapons! He is not a threat!" Your hands trembled as you strove to maintain your stance, even as the knights pressed ever closer to you. You could hear Horangi's whimpers, the shuffle of his body pressing closely to the floor and backing into the wall. You've lost so much in your life already, you won't lose the only thing that supported you all this time.
"Princess, please step away, else I use force. That thing is a an endangerment to us all. You are putting us at risk protecting that monster," the head knight shouts. Their blades drew nearer, and you found yourself with no space left to retreat. Who were you kidding, believing they would listen to you? After all, to them, you were part monster as well. The knights encircled you, driving you into a corner, the dread prickling your skin as their advance remained relentless. They only ceased their approach when an eerie howl echoed through the room, soon followed by a fierce, loud snarling sound. You turn to see Horangi in an aggressive stance, teeth bared with gaze focused on the knights, feeling yourself pale when he stalks forward. "N-no, no no, Horangi no, don't! Please just trust me!" You rush towards him, kneeling in front of him, wrapping your arms around his head, stroking his muzzle, hoping to calm him down. Taking this chance, the knights only come closer, raising their swords, the head knight raising his voice, "Princess you leave us no choice! We will fulfill our duty to protect the people at all costs!" With that, you brace yourself, pushing against Horangi the best you can, trying to stop him from jumping forward, shutting your eyes tightly.
"How dare you raise your weapons against the princess!" Hyunjin's voice boomed, enraged and labored as he stormed into the room. “Lower your blades this instant, or I will have your heads by dawn,” he commands sternly, his gaze fierce. The knights, swiftly sheathing their weapons, stand at attention before him. "Your highness! There is a werewolf and the princess is foolishly protecting it! We must eradicate it as soon as possible!" the head knight reports. Hyunjin signals with a wave of his hand for the knights to part and make way for him. He strides closer, his eyes scanning the scene until he sees you clinging to what he recognizes as the pet dog you rescued months ago. "Y/n. Give him up. I shall spare him from death, seeing as you care for him so deeply, but I cannot permit a beast to roam freely within this castle."
At first, you shake your head, preparing to plead for mercy. But as your gaze meets Hyunjin's, you realize this may be the extent of mercy Horangi will receive. Frantically, you pull Horangi's head against your own, staring into his wide, fearful eyes, hoping to convey your desperation, "Go with Hyunjin peacefully okay? No matter what they do, do not harm any of them and try your best to be good, for me, hm? I will see you as soon as I can, Horangi. Please, have faith in me," You reassure Horangi as much as you can, stroking his fur. Just as you are about to say more, Hyunjin steps forward, pulling you away gently but firmly. He nods to the knights, signaling them to take action. They clasp a muzzle around Horangi's head, tying multiple ropes around his neck, going in different directions. As Hyunjin holds you, you collapse into uncontrollable wails, your tears flowing freely. Through your blurred vision, you see Horangi walking out with a shockingly calm demeanor. He turns to look at you one last time before disappearing through the door.
You turn to Hyunjin, your hands gripping his collar tightly, your eyes pleading with him as you struggle to stay upright. Your voice trembles as you fight not to collapse to your knees, "Please make sure he lives. You have to make sure they don't kill him. I have never sought a favor from you in all my days, brother, so I beseech you, grant me this one request." You are met with the same pitying look as yesterday. Hyunjin gently takes your hands and guides you to your bed, helping you sit down. He then kneels in front of you, his expression softening as he looks up at you. "Chan would never let them kill an animal, even if it's a werewolf. However, I can't promise you'll see him ever again once he is released," he says calmly, gripping both of your hands tightly, trying to ground you.
You burst into tears once more, pulling your hands out of Hyunjin's to cover your face. Fate truly is cruel. Hyunjin leaves you after a moment, understanding that you won't be speaking to him anymore. The night passes agonizingly slow, the fear for what was happening to Horangi invading your mind. The loneliness of his cell if that was all he was condemned to. All you could do was cling on to the hope Hyunjin's words gave you about the grand commanding knight. You had just barely drifted off into a restless sleep when the brightness of the sun peeking through your windows awakes you. Immediately, you're clambering out of bed and rushing out the door. You ignore every maid and every question that comes along your way as you race to the dungeon.
When you arrive, you're initially shocked, never having ventured into the dungeon before. It's dark, the air damp, and the hallways, lined with brick and iron bars, seem to stretch endlessly. Each cell is just barely the size of a horse stable, and the oppressive atmosphere presses heavily upon you. For a moment you think if this where you would've called home if you weren't so fortunately beautiful.
At your first step into the maze like dungeon, you hear the sound of chains rustling and a whine so familiar, it makes your heart ache. Running towards the sound, you check every single cell you pass for your beloved friend, for both a dog and for a boy. Finally, almost seven cells down, you find a slightly different cell, one with a pillory hanging from the ceiling and Horangi's watery eyes staring at you. You can't help but fall to your knees, horrified at the sight in front of you, your hands clasping over your hands to muffle your cries. Horangi was forced on his knees, dressed in rags that hung off his beaten frame, blood was dripping down his arms from the way he struggled against the pillory. A similar red decorated his neck and ankles, Horangi wincing every time the metal touched his skin. Silver.
"Oh, Horangi.." you mumbled, hands wrapping around the bars of his confinement, muffling yours sobs for his sake, "Oh, I'm so sorry, this is all my fault." For the first time in your life, you find yourself cursing this world. This evil world where magic was unfairly condemned, where you couldn't protect the only friend you've ever known in your own castle because of that magic.
A voice, worn yet smooth, echoed through the cell, pulling you out of your thoughts, "Don' be sorry, s' not your fault princess." You're sure this is the first time you've ever seen Horangi speak but you swore you recognized it. You shake your head, trying your utmost hardest to not break down right there. No, you needed to be strong, you needed to help Horangi. "I'm going to help you, alright?" You start, talking past the lump in your throat, "I promise, I'll get you out of here."
A few moments pass, the dungeon eerily quiet save for the constant dripping of water bouncing off the walls. His eyes search yours, you can see them shining under his long, shaggy hair, the pure trust contrasting yours, full of worry and pain. "I trust you, princess," he says softly, "I trust you with my life." If it wasn't for him breaking the silence, you might've stayed there for another hour, tears running down your eyes, heart shattering piece by piece at his state.
Willing yourself to stand up, you're on your feet and nodding at him, "Thank you for your faith, I'll be back as soon as I can." Before you walk away, you linger for a second, to take in his state once more, to ingrain his pain in your heart if it wasn't already. You begin to walk away, a million thoughts on who to confront, who to ask, who to beg.
“Wait.”
You don’t make a few steps before he calls you back, the urgency in his voice beckoning you to come back. And you do, resuming your place in front of him, heart racing at the tension built by his gaze.
“My name is Beomgyu,” he whispers, eyes not faltering from yours, “Choi Beomgyu.” Your hands reach up, trembling as they grip the iron bars, pulling yourself as close as you can to him. “Beomgyu,” you breathe, echoing his name back to him and you can see how it affects him, his hair bristling wildly as if it was alive. For the first time, you can clearly see his face and you etch it into your mind, new tears rolling down your cheeks. A fluttery feeling bubbled in the deepest part of you, your breath catching in your throat on its way out. He was beautiful. Such distinct and wild features, surpassing even your brother, who shared the beauty of Mother. You don't think you've ever seen a face that wound your heart so tight.
And by Flora and all of her powers, you were going to save him, you owed that to him. You were going to turn this whole castle upside down if you had to. For the years of oppression you’ve endured, for the new spark burning in your heart, for Beomgyu.
"Oh Beomgyu, I promise you, I will do everything and anything I can to save you, I will save you."
author note: sorry for the long wait this took forever to come out because i was doing every thing but finish this one(which means this is not proofread yet) we finally get the first member! let's see what our princess does to help beomgyu>< the upcoming chapters will most likely be much shorter than this one, we'll see! thank you for those who have been waiting^^ as always, reblogs, likes, and comments are always appreciated <3
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atamascolily · 1 year ago
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There's a blink-and-you'll-miss-it section of the Rebellion opening where bells flash across the screen and once I paused it, my brain screamed "Utena reference!"
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Left: The Rebellion Story (2013). Right: The Adolescence of Utena (1999).
Rebellion is to the original Madoka Magica TV series as Adolescence is to Revolutionary Girl Utena, to the point where I jokingly refer to it as "The Adolescence of Homura". The primary difference is that while Rebellion eventually makes it clear that it is a continuation, not a retelling of the original, the relationship between the Utena movie and its predecessor remains open to interpretation. (To make up for it, Adolescence has a gorgeously animated and romantic dance sequence and ends with the two female leads cuddling naked and kissing, while Rebellion... doesn't.) Most of the parallels are subtextual rather than overt, but every now and then the animators give us a shot that makes it clear that Utena was indeed a direct influence.
This whole section is difficult to see because it flashes by so fast, but it also includes another shot that takes my breath away:
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The windows of the castle in the fantasy theme park open up to reveal the clockwork powering it; the cogs and gears float in the celestial void, the "engine" of reality as we know it. The entire theme park is a Potemkin facade meant to disguise and distract us from the truth... essentially giving away one of the movie's main twists before it's even gotten started. This is also hinted at in earlier shots of the desert "blooming" as it is covered by an illusion, which is eventually rescinded in the final moments of the credits, but goes further by indirectly pointing to Homura as its source.
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This is also Homura's hand, but it's not as immediately obvious, just like the hands puppeting the Nightmares are also hers, but with a bandage to hide the soul gem mark on her fingernail. I don't know if we ever see that bracelet again, though.
Note that although opening windows are a major recurring visual motif in this movie--the symbol of the Law of Cycles' salvation--this is different, as evidenced by the stained glass design on the panes. Here we are "looking under the hood," so to speak, in a manner evocative of Princess Tutu, one of the other influences on Madoka Magica and Rebellion in particular, in which "reality" is ultimately revealed to be controlled by a narrative represented as mechanical clockwork. I can't help noticing the stained glass in the window is round with a purple cross--reminiscent of Homura's shield and her diamond-shaped soul gem.
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We also get a glimpse of the clock face, which is not the weirdest clock in this series by a wide margin, but does combine the shield/gears/time motifs nicely.
In case it's not clear, I love it when opening credits contained major spoilers hidden in plain sight and I cannot wait to see what they do with Walpurgis no Kaiten.
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moonpaw · 2 years ago
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Genuine question for you as my go-to source for One Piece-related things. Have you seen all the movies AND. What would you rate them on a scale of 1-10 asking for a friend (the friend is me) 👀
of course of course
I've watched most of the movies!! (though some of the last watches were a decade ago lmao)
One Piece: The Movie: movie 1!! I havent watched this in a while, it's a very early movie before sanji joins but i vaguely remember there being a few zoro and luffy moments, and it's pretty short (i dont remember enough to rate it LOL)
One Piece Clockwork Island: Fun movie! also pretty short too, 7/10
One Piece The Movie: Dead End Adventure: REALLY fun watch, i'd recommend it, 10/10
One Piece: The Cursed Holy Sword: zoro focused movie, i don't remember much about it other than it wasn't.. all that great? been a very long time though
One Piece: Baron Omatsuri and the Secret Island: REALLY GOOD. my favorite one piece movie out of them all 10/10 i love the artstyle and animation used here
One Piece: The Giant Mechanical Soldier of Karakuri Castle: i remember absolutely nothing about this movie lol
One Piece Movie: The Desert Princess and the Pirates: this is just alabasta condensed badly 0/10
One Piece: Episode of Chopper: au version of drum island (in that the straw hats recruit chopper after the timeskip) havent watched it yet, but it seems pretty interesting?
One Piece: Strong World: fun movie :] last movie before the timeskip happens and it's really nami-centered 9/10
One Piece 3D: Straw Hat Chase! don't watch this
One Piece: Episode of Nami: arlong park remastered in movie form, i haven't watched it yet
One Piece Film: Z: pretty good but has a super bullshit weapon thing that isn't canon in the slightest and doesnt really make sense for it to be there, really cool opening though and features EVERY SINGLE marine introduced up until this point 8/10
Episode of Luffy: fun watch but also kinda boring in some places fddf 6/10
One Piece 3D2Y: i havent watched this, do not look into this until you're at the timeskip
One Piece Film: Gold: i havent watched this yet (planning to really soon!) but i heard its really good :]
One Piece: Stampede: this isnt a movie, it's a battle royale LOL
One Piece Film: Red: you've seen this one! 10/10
i also made a post on when a movie happens, timeline wise
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void-ink-studios · 2 years ago
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Please... please, Star Child... Help us...
Incarnations AU is back, with more stuff from the poll I put out a few months ago!
This is probably the most fanfiction thing in this AU, the idea of a Redeemed Dark Matter. I always thought Dark Matter was an interesting villain for the franchise, and I've chosen to characterize it as both a villain and a victim. Something that was born from a source of great pain and hatred, that was never shown another way, and left to fester in its own misery for eons.
So, what would they be life if given a second chance? What if they were allowed to live again, with a new perspective?
More on that Under the Cut.
Remember, if you like the art, be sure to reblog!
I have a few ideas on how this could even happen. Most revolving around a Clockwork Star, a wish gone awry, and the concentrated power of a wishing star being too much to handle, even for an Incarnation.
It culminates in a battle between an unstable, barely holding together Dark Matter and Kirby. Kirby hears their enemy call out to them from the chaotic void. But it's not a taunt or a temptation to join them.
It's a call for help. For an end to the despair.
But Kirby doesn't destroy them this time. They spare the Darkness, because they believe the Darkness could do better, if given guidance.
Zero is the first to reemerge from the swirl, in a new form. It is still strange, still terrifying gigantic, but it is a broken and healed angel. It is in a new form, with a new life. Rather than Zero 3, Kirby decides to give it a different name. They give him the name Cipher.
Cipher's subjects form and emerge shortly after him. They emerge with a choice: Stay or Leave. Those who leave will disconnect from the greater hive and be on their own to do as they wish. Those who stay become part of the new Dark Matter. The New Kingdom.
Dark Nebula is suspicious and wary of this truce with the Star Child but is willing to stick around to protect Cipher and the hive with her life. Just as she always has. She becomes the head administrator and advisor to the new king, as well as the primary ambassador to attend events that Cipher's size and reputation prevents him from attending.
The Swordsmen emerge, and those who stay accept their new role as the royal guard, the sworn protectors of Cipher and Nebula. Some chose to leave. Some scatter to the stars to search for a new purpose. Most surprisingly, some stay on Popstar, becoming wandering warriors. One even joins the Meta-Knights. But those who stay take their duties quite seriously.
It's the Drones that are most intriguing. Most stick around the hive. But some decide to leave. Some become normal citizens of Popstar. Some become explorers with intent to return to the hive one day. Some leave with the Swordsmen, coming squires of sorts. And some... well, some can't let go of the old way. They can't let go of the need to infect and hide. It's with a heavy heart that those are dealt with, often by Cipher himself. But, those who stay are the bulk of the citizens of the New Kingdom. They serve as the staff to Cipher and Nebula, as entourage on diplomatic missions, as builders and cultivators and explorers. It's the first time they've been allowed to explore their own interests. To build and grow, rather than infect or take or destroy. They are Cipher's subjects. And he sees them with the same parental warmth Dedede feels for the Waddle Dees.
It's a feeling very new to everyone involved.
Then there's Miracle Matter. The one thing Cipher tried to create. The first thing he felt true grief for. The first to add to the hive when she was destroyed. She emerges from the cloud, still tiny, still strange, but with a very different role. No longer was she meant to be Kirby's counter, a copy, a corrupted answer. Now, she was Kirby's cousin. A new friend, one who they could teach games and play with, like Gooey and Bandie. Now, she was Cipher's princess. His daughter, in a way.
It's a new thing for him, the idea of family. But Nebula and Miracle are his unit. His sister and his daughter. And he learns to love. Love and dotes on them as would any brother and father.
They make a home of Popstar's moon. They keep in contact with Popstar. They try to make amends with other kingdoms, especially Ripple Star. They rise as a New Hive.
And they are happy.
I have a lot of thoughts on this whole thing, so if you're curious or want to see more of this, feel free to send an ask.
And other poll stuff is being worked on! So, stay tuned.
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princess-of-the-corner · 1 month ago
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https://www.tumblr.com/princess-of-the-corner/783844070907838464/this-but-danny-phantom?source=share
I ment me...sort of I had a huge crush at the time for Undergrowth and Clockwork...
Oh yeah the Fandom is a different thing because.... yeah the fandom does what it does I was talking in-universe
Also fair
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King Boo's Power Enhancing Jeweled Crown 2
In a previous post mentioned how the jewel in King Boo's crown probably increases his power, and is possibly why he looks different in the Luigi's Mansion game. There is information from the game that confirms this is the case. Before the boss fight of Luigi's Mansion 2 Dark Moon King Boo himself says, "this power enhancing jeweled crown of mine made it easy."
I also speculated that King Boo's increased power probably affected the other Boos. In Dark Moon before the Old Clockworks boss, Professor E. Gadd says the following. "Another Boo using those spirit balls to create illusions. Who gave them that ability? They can't just have just started doing that on their own."
We also see other power enhancing gems in Dark Moon later in the game which the Boos used to enhance the ghost. The gems are also red in color similar to the gem in his crown in the first game. Before Mission D-2 E. Gadd says, "In his last report, the Toad said something about crystals having strengthening qualities," this further confirms such gems have an affect on ghost.
Even more recently King Boo drops his crown in Super Mario Bros. Wonder reverting to a normal Boo. This seems to indicate King Boo's Crown is a powerful object that makes King Boo, meaning it's not just the jewel but the crown he wears.
A mini hypothesis I have is all the crowns have supernatural abilities they grant the the one who wears them. This would include the various crowns King Boo wears, the crown Toadette wears to become Peachette, and the sticker crowns. Finally the Princesses from who are established to wield forms of magic most notably Princess Peach, their crowns could be the source of their power as a magical artifact. This would also explain way no matter what outfit change they undergo they keep their crowns on. Gonna be honest this makes me think of the crowns like the Ice Crown from Adventure Time.
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short-circuit-the-great · 4 months ago
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The Restless Dead (WIP) | Snippet | Put on the Dress, Deacon
Fandom: Pirate101 | Rating: T | POV: Orion Nightingale
His magic wasn’t great, even if he wouldn’t admit it out loud. The hex that had gotten him arrested by the Armada in the first place, landing him in the brig on Deacon’s ship, was a mistake. What was supposed to happen to Deacon was him getting waterboarded with lemonade (which wouldn’t exactly work on a construct that didn’t need to breathe, but suddenly getting a citrus baptism in the name of Grandmother Lemon would inconvenience just about anybody). What happened instead was a barrage of lemons falling from the sky, bonking Deacon on the head repeatedly, following him like a rain cloud in a cartoon until his soldiers traced it to the source: the greatest magician who ever lived, sitting on a barrel in an alleyway, squeezing lemon juice onto a poorly-made Deacon doll.
Orion had stuck his tongue out at him and made the doll punch itself in the head, which made Deacon deck one of his soldiers instead.
“Stop this madness, ruffian!” Deacon said as the soldier’s head spun around in violent circles, reeling from the punch, and Orion made the doll shake its ass. Deacon started dancing crazy style against his will.
Orion had never seen a Clockwork dance like that, or at all, and he laughed a little bit, as much as he could when the creature of his nightmares was breakdancing.
“Stop at once,” Deacon said as he hit some sick moves while his soldiers looked on blankly, awaiting orders.
Someone risked opening their window to peek at the chaos in the street, and a man sneaking past in the shadows gave a snicker.
“Give ‘em hell, kid,” he might have whispered as he slipped away, but Orion was too focused on tormenting Deacon to be sure.
“Stop at once, huh?” Orion said. “Like you didn’t stop shooting at our ship?”
He twisted the doll, which made Deacon do the worm.
“Kill this insolent child,” Deacon said, almost snarling his words, and it was the most emotion Orion had ever seen a Clockwork show.
The soldiers closed in, and Orion made a break for it, only to find that they had him surrounded. He whipped out a marker and drew eyelashes on the doll, holding it up to the sky.
“Make him a pretty princess!”
In a swirl of pink sparkles, Deacon was wearing a glittery pink dress and high heels, his mask smeared with lipstick and glitter, fake eyelashes stuck on haphazardly. He stumbled in his unsteady shoes, and he kept getting stuck in the cracks between the cobblestones. Wrenching his foot free each time, he held onto his skirt to keep it out of the mud, his empty stare burning into Orion, who was rather pleased a spell had mostly worked as intended for once. He stared back and shook the doll vigorously, ordering:
“Make him explode.”
“I will not stand for this,” Deacon said, pulling a gun from his skirt, but before he could fire, he started hitting disco moves. Not the explosion Orion asked for. Not an explosion at all. But it was enough to distract the soldiers long enough for him to squeeze through their ranks and run for his life, or what was left of it.
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ladyhindsight · 2 years ago
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Family tree anon again. Another continuity error I’ve noticed is that in the CP2 family tree it states that Jem and Will were born in 1861 (I think Jessie is the same age as well) and Tessa in 1862, which would make them 17 and her 16 in TID (this is confirmed in canon afair).
I don’t know where these new dates originated, but in the TSC wikia it states that Jem Will and Jessie were born in 1860, with Jem’s birthday in November, Will’s in December, and Jessie’s in August. So means the 3 of them would be turning 18 in 1878. Maybe I’m just doing the math wrong, but this makes no sense to me in canon.
First of all: Jessie always mentions how much she hates being a Shadowhunter and how she wants to leave the Institute, but she can’t since she’s still underage. If she actually turned 18 in 1878, she would’ve been able to leave during the event if CP (which takes place in July-August).
Second: Jem and Will are always being excluded from things involving the Enclave since they’re underage, but I feel like if they were turning 18 that year they still wouldn’t be treated like children? Also when Tessa and Jem are talking about their wedding, Jem says he feel guilt for binding her to marriage at 16, and she replies “you’re only 17”. How could he be “only 17” if he’s turning 18 soon?
I just don’t get how CC could change something like this that’s so clearly in canon.
Helloo!
This was actually a bigger rabbit hole than I first anticipated. Also the biggest mystery why Clare changed Will’s and Jem’s birthdays at all!! Not the first time assigning whatever birthdays have fucked up things. So, the Shadowhunters fan wiki says Will’s birthday is December 30, 1860, and it is sourced Clockwork Angel 10th Anniversary Special Edition. I watched a flipthrough of that edition but I didn’t really see where the info was exactly. The trivia on Will’s character says that (as of December 7, 2023):
The birthday (December 30, 1860) assigned to Will and revealed in the 10th Anniversary Edition of Clockwork Angel contradicts previously established canon: In Clockwork Prince, he said he was three months younger than Jem (whose birthday was revealed as November 8, 1860, making him only a month younger), and his birth year was listed as 1861 in the "found" family tree released with Clockwork Princess and An Illustrated History of Notable Shadowhunters & Denizens of Downworld, though the family tree may easily be considered inaccurate.
But the An Illustrated History of Notable Shadowhunters & Denizens of Downworld should be accurate, and I did check and Jem’s birth year is 1861 as is Will’s. (Thought to note on accuracy, many details have changed concerning TLH characters as well.) Now Jem’s assigned birthday is November 8, 1860 (source Clockwork Angel 10th Anniversary Special Edition) and the trivia says, “In Clockwork Prince, Jem is said to be three months older than Will. However, in the 10th anniversary edition of Clockwork Angel, their birth dates were revealed as one month apart; causing a continuity issue.”
Definitely. The scene in Clockwork Prince, chapter 4 “A Journey” went like this:
“Yes, though Charlotte’s rather fallen off in tutoring us lately, as you might imagine,” said Will. “One either has a tutor or one is schooled in Idris—that is, until you attain your majority at eighteen. Which will be soon, thankfully, for the both of us.” “Which one of you is older?” “Jem,” said Will, and “I am,” said Jem, at the same time. They laughed in unison as well, and Will added, “Only by three months, though.” “I knew you’d feel compelled to point that out,” said Jem with a grin.
Soon, meaning next year? Which makes me wonder what the original dates of birth were.
Jessamine was born August 10, 1860 (source Clockwork Angel 10th Anniversary Special Edition), but no trivia notes on her birthday. Probably because it was intended to be the one stated. In Clockwork Angel she even says in chapter 6 “Strange Earth”, “As I am sure horrid Will has told you, my parents, my dear papa and mama, are dead. But they left me a not inconsiderable sum of money. It was put aside in trust for me until my eighteenth birthday, which is only in a matter of months. You see the problem, of course.” Which takes place in May once Tessa has arrived to London. Tessa is born January 28, 1862, sourced also Clockwork Angel 10th Anniversary Special Edition. No trivia notes on the birthday because it is what it is.
The book timeline is:
1873, November 10: “Will Herondale left Wales and his family to become a Shadowhunter. Months after, Jem Carstairs arrived at the London Institute and met his future parabatai Will.” I wonder how that year was come up with since Will only tells Cecily in Clockwork Princess chapter 10 “Like Water Upon Sand” that “I first came here when I was twelve” and “It was, to be precise, the tenth of November of that year. And every year after, on the anniversary of that day, I would fall into a black mood of despair.” Which, in the “original” timeline, would mean Will had already turned 12 by November, because originally he was born 1861. Now that canon has changed, it means Will would turn 13 in the end of December, making him already soon to be 18 years old in 1878, which is not the case as we later see here. What also speaks of the fact that Will turned 12 years old in 1873 is this:  “When he’d reached twelve years of age, he’d been sent to the Institute; at that time he’d still been so small that he’d looked barely nine.” Quite point blank period.
1878 April is when the events from Clockwork Angel begin. Will is 17, Jem is 17, Jessie is 17 about to turn 18, Tessa 16. In May, Tessa arrives at London. On June 5, Clockwork Angel ends.
July to August, Clockwork Prince takes place. I don’t remember there being a mention of Jessie’s birthday. On July 27 Benedict threw the secret masquerade ball which Tessa and Will infiltrated. At this point Jessamine is already 18 and engaged to Nate. In the chapter 11 “Wild Unrest” of Clockwork Prince Sophie finds the invite from Benedict and it is dated 20th of August, which means Jessie’s birthday came and went, and I couldn’t find a single mention of it.
One could argue she stayed at the Institute in order to spy the Institute for Nate (and by extension for Mortmain). She had a chance to leave but she was also enamored with Nate and subsequently played into his plans. And after her betrayal Clave took her wealth and she was ordered to return to the Institute by Charlotte. So, Jessamine essentially (after turning 18) was spying for Nate and Mortmain, subsequently caught and tied to a bedpost, interrogated and taken to Silent City. After being released from the Silent City she was returned to the London Institute where she was immediately killed upon arrival. I mean, she had her moments to leave but in the end she stayed and some of these could be reasons why. I don’t think Clare really thought of Jessamine as much, though in Clockwork Angel chapter 6 “Strange Earth”Jessie says:
“Don’t you? I can leave the Institute, Tessa, but I cannot live alone. It wouldn’t be respectable. Perhaps if I were a widow, but I am only a girl. It just isn’t done. But if I had a companion—a sister—”
So there’s the main reason. It isn’t proper. Additionally in Clockwork Prince chapter 2 “Reparations” Jessamine says, “I don’t want to be thrown out of the Institute if we can’t find the Magister,” Jessamine went on. “Is that so difficult to understand?” When Charlotte tells her she can leave if she wants. So there’s also that.
October to December, Clockwork Princess takes place. Will proposed to Tessa in the Institute Christmas party and later tells Cecily, “You can’t be married, Cecily! You’re only fifteen! When I get married, I’ll be eighteen! An adult!” So Will was still 17, also ironic that there wasn’t such opposition when James and Cordelia get married at 17.
Also interestingly, Gabriel’s birthday is June 2, also in 1860 but in Clockwork Angel he is described as “the youngest of the group, a boy probably no more than a year older than Jem or Will.” Which could be Well, he looked older! But in light of all that we have gathered here, Clare initially wrote Jem and Will having been born in 1861. Then later Callida Fairchild says, “Perhaps with help from James Carstairs and Will Herondale, but neither of them is any older than seventeen. How much help can they be?” Also meaning Will and Jem were both born in 1861. Also:
“Nate, Tessa thought disgustedly, is exactly two years older than Will. Hardly a century. Nor is he by any stretch of the imagination “mature.”
And Nate’s birth year is stated to be 1859.
In the chapter 24 “The Measure of Love” in Clockwork Princess, Will thinks how it is “First Christmas morning without Jem in six years. The purest cold, bringing the purest pain.” For which the birthdays make even less sense in the context of “Months after, Jem Carstairs arrived at the London Institute and met his future parabatai Will.”
1. Christmas morning, aged 12 (because Will was already 12 when he came to London Institute)
2. Christmas, aged 13
3. Christmas, aged 14
4. Christmas, aged 15
5. Christmas, aged 16
6. Christmas, aged 17 (When Jem has become a Silent Brother)
Because Jem was 11 years old when Yanluo attacked (“When I was eleven, Yanluo found a weak spot in the ward that protected the Institute, and tunneled inside.”), so it stands to reason it didn’t take years for him to arrive at London.
Anyway, the point of this tirade is the same as yours. There is so much stuff stating Will’s and Jem’s ages, so why in the earth would she change it by a year and fuck all of this up?? I cannot fathom.
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satoshi-mochida · 1 year ago
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Middle Eastern mythology-inspired side-scrolling action adventure game The Land of the Magnates announced for PC
From Gematsu
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Publisher Freedom Games and developer Permanent Way Games have announced Middle Eastern mythology-inspired side-scrolling action adventure game The Land of the Magnates for PC (Steam). It will launch in 2025.
Here is an overview of the game, via its Steam page:
About
The Land of the Magnates is an epic action adventure set in a magical world inspired by the myths of the Middle East. You are Malik Shahbaz, prince of the Land of the Sun. Once a land of joy and music, the kingdom has been shrouded in darkness and silence following the death of its queen. Now, the king has been poisoned and the prince stands accused of this foul deed. After a daring escape, the disgraced prince must travel the realm to find a way to cure his father, reclaim his throne, and return light to the Land of the Sun. From the cursed Black Forest, to the Land of the Sun shrouded in darkness, from the domain of the Water Princess to the marble lands of the Monkey Kings, Shahbaz will have to lift ancient curses, defeat vile minions of the dark with his trusty sitar, and solve complex puzzles requiring quick thinking—and quick fingers.
Key Features
An Epic Tale Filled with Unique Challenges – The prince flees his homeland with little but the clothes and the sitar slung on his back. This instrument is the last source of music in the lands and his only weapon against the darkness. The magical sounds of its strings can bring life back to the land. But that’s only the first step. Shahbaz must face platforming challenges at dizzying heights, environmental puzzles demanding mastery of the elements, and finally, himself.
A World of Magic and Myth – The Land of the Magnates is a world permeated by magic, where gods and humans exist side by side. Shahbaz will meet loyal friends, ruthless manipulators, benevolent goddesses, mythical creatures—and travel through magical forests, elemental realms, magical cities of ages past, and lands of clockwork and tinkering of future ages.
An Authentic Experience – Grounded in the complex history and culture of Arabia, Persia, India, Byzantium, and other Near Eastern cultures, The Land of the Magnates brings folk tales like the Arabian Nights to life like no other game. It is a feast for the senses, harnessing the power of Unreal Engine 5 to offer a glimpse into this stunning world of myth and legend, accompanied by a score representing the finest in Middle Eastern music—brought together by a talented crew of Turkish developers from Istanbul, the gateway to the east!
Watch the announcement trailer below. View the first screenshots at the gallery.
Announce Trailer
youtube
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darkseraphscorner · 7 months ago
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I will admit, I am mixing CoH lore with shit I ripped from Arcane Season two for this. Enjoy.
Boomtown. Neph tapped her head set. "Vanguard HQ, this is Nephilim Blade, another dead end." She says over the com, the tinny reply coming in her ear.
"Some one has been collecting and stockpiling Preatorian clockwork besides us agent Blade, we have tracked them down to the Boomtown area, we have called in reinforcements to aid you."
Neph snorted as she bent at the knee, cybernetics legs putting before she bounded over the street, landing with a crack of pavement, she didn't need help, this was Preat clocks, she was breathing them into scrap when she was just a lowbie, looking around she brought up her mini map and looked it over, still some abandoned buildings to check out before it got dark, she could hit them up easily.
Reaching her next search location, she looked at a battered Wearhouse, looked like it had been hit by a hammer, the building leaning to one side as she walks up, finding the padlock on the door melted to slag. "Come in HQ, think I found something, a busted door that looks to high tech for the locals."
"Proceed with caution." The voice crackled back as Neph pushed the door open, looking into the gloom, only illuminated by shafts of light from the sky light, Neph cracks her knuckles, energy flickering into life around them as she steps in.
Walking in, she squinted into the gloom, her eyes adjusting to the dark as she saw figures piled up like fire wood, clock works. "HQ, I found the place... HQ?" She tapped her coms, only getting a squeal of feedback.
"No no, we can't have you talking to medelsom outsiders, Neph Seraph." A voice echoed from the dark, accented, but familiar, hauntingly so.
Neph slowly turns around, looking for the source of the voice. "Who's there?" She called out.
"Oh my dear Neph, we are not strangers you and I, our paths crossed before." Metal foot steps echoed as a figure stepped into the light, it was a clockwork, but not like any she had seen before, it's body more elegant, more streamlined, a make shift cloak hangs from its back, a metal plate fastened over its face, a violette glow coming through the eye holes.
Neph squinted. "Who the fuck are you tin man?"
The clockwork laughed. "Tin man, yes.... I am the tin man, lacking a heart... I have lacked a heart for a long time Neph, but you might know me as a King."
Neph blinked. "The...the clock work king? But you are in the Zig."
He chuckled. "Ah my primal counterpart languishing in prison, for he still has some of his mortal form, I have transcended the need for flesh, I am purely of the mind."
Rolling her shoulders, Neph glares. "And this is the part where you tell me your evil plan?"
The Clockwork king stops. "My plan? Continue what you stopped in Preatoria my dear, my glorious evoluation."
"Your evolution? You ripped people's minds from their bodies and shoved them into clockwork, how is that evolution?"
Woodkids To ash and blood
He clapped his hands, clockwork around the warehouse starting to stir, all eyes glowing violet as the started towards Neph. "To be free of death, of hunger, of aging, of sickness, I will create a new race, and my princess will be the pinnacle of them, my perfect creation... And you will not stop me this time."
Neph growled and leaped for him, glowing fist swinging as a clockwork throws itself in the way, shattering it's torso and more ran up, mechanical bodies twitching like puppets on strings, she was quickly surrounded, her fists slamming out in empowered hammer blows, but more and more ran up, swarming her, grabbing her and punning her to the ground.
She snarled and struggled as the King walked up, his hand glowing with psychic energy. "Maybe you just need to see things from my point of view." He says as he leans in, energy starting to probe her mind as she gritted her teeth. "Soon you will awaken to your eternal firm Neph, do not resist."
There was a shatter of glass as a red and gold blur slammed into the floor, scattering clock work before bounding over and ripping clock work off Neph with an impressive display of strength.
"Gir?" Neph blinked, looking up at her sister in full costume.
"Hey sis, HQ sent me in the second your radio went down, lucky you." Gir said, Neph could tell she was smiling under that helm. "What's the situation?"
The Clockwork king staggered back, the glow of his eyes flaring. "One of Cole's puppets, I'm shocked there are any of you left after the war.... But your kind had one weakness." He holds out a hand as a wave of psychic energy slammed into Gir, staggering her. "For all your might, your mind is weak."
Neph pounced, at him, knocking him to the floor as struggling with him. "Get the fuck out of my sister's head!" She shouted.
The King clucked his fingers and more clockwork poured in, hundreds of them, metal hands grasping as he tried to buck Neph off himself.
Gir recovers, looking at the oncoming hoard. "Wanted to try this." She said softly, the eye holes of her helm glowing before twin laser beams lash out, cutting through the mechanical bodies like a hot knife through butter.
The king struggles under Neph, before going limp. "Destroy this hold out, I have many more hidden around your city, you can not stop my quest, I will free, perfect Penelope Yin." He hisses before the light leaves his eyes, the surrounding clockwork dropping like puppets with their strings cut. "This is but the beginning." His voice echoed in their mind.
Neph slowly got to her feet, Gir walking up and patting her back. "You okay sis?" Gir asked, pulling off her helm and shaking out her green/grey hair.
"No... I think I just gained a nemesis... And not the steam powered one." Neph admits, looking around. "You realise we have to make it so her can't use these things again?"
Gir sighed. "So we are busting them up?"
"Safer that way."
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neafotia · 4 months ago
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Well Miss Saphi, I'll try to be concise because I also really like Pokemon. I have fond memories as well of chasing down light sources with my GBA while enjoying Leaf Green and Emerald.
Now, type means a lot to a gym's identity, so we should get it right. The obvious option would be psychic, given the type as a whole's aesthetic and having Hypno. But, you're not necessarily about your power over the mind, you're about the lovely dolls, plushes, and toys you've brought under your spell.
As such, I would propose fairy to be more fitting. Still fantastical in thematics, so having a witch makes sense, and then many Pokemon featured could be toy themed in some way.
The gym itself would be your witches cottage on the outside. And though the lobby would appear normal, entering the 'spell room' (the gym proper, hidden in the hill the cottage abuts) reveals a loosely woven set of green ribbon paths, which have a bit of slack. It has several parts that need adjusting, like removing sharp angles, undoing the folds, and simplifying any twisting. Each adjustment though comes with a new layer of hypnotic audio gently playing in the gym. This causes more of the gym trainers to stir and face you in a battle. And for a slightly flashy ending, the ribbon pulls taut when they're finished, slowing their approach to you as though the spell is finally finished.
Now, the Pokemon are also important to a gym's identity, but is something that is the most dependent on just who the gym trainers are. The general theming for them though should be around up to 3 options, depending on strength. The first option is their favorite Pokemon of who they were before coming to work for you (for myself, that would be Absol, for reserved and rarely seen). Second, it's Sylveon, the ribbon Pokemon to represent your spell on them. And finally, some Pokemon themed to what they are now (Mine would be Magearna because I'm a clockwork dolly ready to serve). These can be in any order, and don't have to use all of them necessarily. They are the themes those under her spell should use.
The trainers needed to be more generic, but we all know who the gym leader is, so their team can be planned more precisely. Now, what kind of team composition you have is dependent largely on where in the gym lineup you are progression-wise. I personally think you'd be about a mid game gym leader, as there are tougher opponents out there, but none of them are as sweet and gentle as you are. And maybe because there's rumors the earlier ones are actually under her spell, and an oddly out of place fairy type is on their team. However, rematches with gym leaders let them show off their prowess and identity the best, and so I'll be designing for that version of the team.
The opening Pokemon would be Sylveon, the source of your ribbons. The other non-ace Pokemon should be representations of those under her spell. So Mimikyu for puppets, Primarina for the princesses, Magearna for the maids and dollies, and Wigglytuff for the plushies. Finally, the ace Pokemon to represent the spellcaster herself would be Gardevoir. Not only are they the most reminiscent of the green ribbons Miss Saphi prefers using, but they are a pokemon who loves so deeply they defend their trainers with their lives. An argument could be made for Hatterene, the hat witch Pokemon, but I personally feel Gardevoir fits the theme a bit better. And if located in a region/generation that allows it, Mega Gardevoir is also available to use.
And for our final section, we have the purpose the gym and it's leader serves the local community. Though not so present in earlier generations, the gym leaders have become community leaders more and more through the years. As for Miss Saphi, it should be obvious that it is something that relaxes you, frees you from your worries and weariness. So, I propose she runs a calming forest resort. The town is always peaceful, with many residents being those who are frequently under the witches spell by choice. There would be a spa, a lovely boutique selling clothes fit for dollies, and an open-air theater that gently thrums a soothing audio, letting any who come to sit there can relax as they wish without sinking too deep.
Overall, a cozy gym, and definitely a town I'd wish to live in, likely either working for Miss Saphi directly in her gym, or working at the boutique.
The new Pokemon announcements have me yearning. I remember so vividly playing Pokemon Red on my original Gameboy, spending most of the time hunting for a better light to shine on the screen (I am also acutely aware at the mention of my age making certain darlings a little weak~)
I've often wondered what kind of gym I would run. But I was a very different person back then.
Say, what sort of gym would I run, sweet darlings? What type would I main, what Pokemon would feature? What would my puzzle or challenge be? I think I might know that answer (and Sabrina should watch out lest she become a cute little dolly for me), but I would love to hear from you all
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